Talk:Gyration tensor

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[edit] Potential misunderstanding

In the last part of the article describing asphericity and acylindricity: the statements about the particles' distributions could be incorrectly interpreted.

Zero asphericity implies the moment of inertia tensor is spherically symmetric but the particle distribution need-not be and indeed can't really be for a finite number of particles.

Similarly with zero acylindricity.

Specifically a cubic volume of gas shouldn't be said to be either spherically or cylindrically symmetric yet it will have zero asphericity and acylindricity.

It's a minor point but the wording could actually lead to false assumptions so it might be better to change these statements about the particles to ones about the actual moment of inertia tensor.

Regards, Jambaugh (talk) 19:57, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks very much, J! :) I'd missed that potential misunderstanding. I've tried to fix it up; please let me know if you think it's OK — thanks! :) Willow (talk) 07:45, 10 March 2008 (UTC)